Grease dispensing apparatus



Feb. 24, 1948. J. LIDDELL ET AL GREASE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19, 1945 mn nl nm I INVENTORS JAMES W.L|DDELLGDd EDWARD F. SHANNON ATTORNEYS Patcntcd icb. 24, 1948 GREASE DISPENSING APPARATUS James W. Liddell, Evanstown, and Edward F. Shannon, Chicago, 11]., assignors to Continental Oil Company, Ponca City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application October 19, 1945, Serial No. 623,322

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a device which is particularly applicable for use in dispensing viscous materials such as heavy oils or greases and which at room temperature, or temperatures lower than room temperatures usually encountered where products of this kind are employed, will not flow to the extent where they may be poured or pumped.

A notable example of a material which may be handled by the apparatus of this invention is the heavy oil or grease used in lubricating various parts of railroad trains. Equipment of this kind requires a very stiff lubricant so that even in warm weather the lubricant does not flow readily, if at all. The difliculties in handling the lubricant are aggravated in cold weather when the lubricant progressively stiffens and at low temperatures finally becomes a solid mass. It is common practice for the workmen servicing equipment of this character to form by hand balls of the lubricant which are dropped into the gear cases where the lubricant is required. This is a wasteful. time-consuming operation which is unpleasant to perform and does not apply the lubricant to the equipment in the form in which it should be applied.

It is a principal object of this invention to provide an apparatus which is capable 01' handling the stifiest lubricants in cold weather and applying them to the gear cases or the like in fluid form so that not only is the work of applying the lubricant greatly facilitated, but the unpleasant and wasteful practices of the prior art as above pointed out are avoided. Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of an apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view 01' the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section view or the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 taken in a plane substantially indicated by the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 4 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 5-5;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical circuit for the apparatus of the previous figures: and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary part section part side elevation of a portion of the apparatus illustrated in the previous figures showing an alternative form of construction.

Referring now more specifically to Figs. 1 2 and 4, the device with which this invention is concerned comprises a wheeled cart having spaced wheels I and a standard 2 supporting a base, generally indicated at 3, on which is mounted 9. casing, generally indicated at 4.

The base 3 is substantially circular with a raised central portion generally indicated at 5 likewise circular in cross section. The reces provided by the projection 5 is closed by means of a removable cover generally indicated at 6 and which comprises a central thermally insulated body portion 1 provided with a marginal fiange 8 by which the cover may be attached to the lower face of the base by means such as screws or the like.

Mounted on the base 3 is the casing 4 which, as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, comprises two substantially semi-circular sections 9 and I0, each of double-walled construction with the space between such walls filled with a thermal insulation ll.

Along one of the mating edges of th comple mentary sections 9 and i0 there is a, hin e 12 which may be of any suitable form, but which is shown to be of the same construction as the conventional so-called piano hinge.

The section 9 of the casing l is secured to the base 3 at the lower edge of such section by any suitable means, such as welding. The section i0 is not secured to the base 3 but is supported entirely by the hinge I 2 on the section 9. Thus the section Ill may be swung outwardly about the axis of the hinge I2 in the manner indicated by the dotted-line position A in Fig. 2, so that there may be placed in the casing a drumpr similar container l3, such container being the container in which the manufacturer of the lubricant has packaged and shipped the same. After the lubricant container is thus placed in the cart in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the section l0 may be swung shut and held in closed position by means of a hame-tight latch generally indicated at M. Secured to the fixed section 9, as by riveting or the like, are spaced handles l5 which project laterally from the casing and are cross-braced by 3 means oi a bar I! so that the cart may be manipulated and moved trom place to place by means of such handles.

At the lower end 01 the fixed casing section 9 is an enlargement, generally indicated at IS, on the upper face of which is mounted an electric switch I! of conventional design. The projection It also houses a thermostat element of conventional design, as diagrammatically illustrated in the wire circuit of Fig. 6, and leading from the interior of such projection l8 are electrical leads which extend to a resistance heating element 18, the location of which is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4 andwhich may likewise be of conventional design. The heating element I8 is clamped in position on the lower face of the base projection 5 by means of a cross bar l8a.

In Fig. 6 there is illustrated diagrammatically a wiring diagram which includes the switch having a contactor l9 adapted to make contact with the points 20, 2| and 22. From these lastnamed points extend leads 23 and 24 which extend to resistance units 25 and 26, the latter being connected by means of lead 21 back to the switch I1 and from which there also extends a ground lead 28 which may be connected to the frame of the cart at any suitable point. The switch I1 is so constructed that the contactor l9 may have contact with only point 2|; only point 22; or both points 20 and 2|. When the contactor is in contact with only point 20, then only the lesser of the two resistance units, 1. e., 26, will be in the heating circuit. When the contactor is in contact with points 2| and 22 or only 22, then the greater resistance unit, i. e., 25, will be in the circuit. When, however, the contactor l9 makes contactwith both points 20 and 2|, then both resistance units will be in the circuit in parallel.

It will thus be seen by means of the switching arrangement illustrated, it is contemplated that a three-stage heating unit be employed for the purpose hereinafter more fully explained.

In series in the lead 23 there is a bellows-controlled switch 29 actuated by means of a thermostat 30 of conventional design. The thermostat may be placed at any point in the casing 4 or it may be placed in the throat of the recess in the projection I6. The projection i6 may be provided with a recess Ilia for the reception of an electrical jack by which a circuit may be established to the switch from an outside pair of leads. Alternatively, a cable containing the necessary leads may be attached to the switch H and carried by the cart with the connecting jack at the end of such cable.

The vertical height of the casing 4 is such that its upper edge will be substantially flush with the upper edge of a standard size grease container such as l3. The upper edge of the casing,

or more particulary the fixed section 9 thereof,

is provided with threaded studs 3| extendingupwardly therefrom and which are adapted to receive a spanner bar 32, such bar being secured in place by means of wing nuts on the studs 3|.

There is provided for use with the container l3, as furnished by the lubricant manufacturer, a cover generally indicated at 33, which comprises a circular disc having a dependent marginal flange of an inside diameter slightly greater than the outside diameter of the standard container l3. The cover 33 is provided with an opening 34 through which may be projected the tube 35 of a conventional grease pump, generally indicated at 3B. The discharge conduit 31 of the pump 36 is provided with a flexible conduit 4 38, to the end of which there is, secured a valve 39. It will be found that the use of a conventional molasses gate will be preferable for the valve 39. The cover 33 is also provided with an inspection opening 40, normally closed by means of a substantially circular plate 4| pivotally secured as at 42 to the cover 33 and held in closed position by means of a threaded stud 43 project ing upwardly from the cover 33 and on which there is threaded a wing nut. The cover 33 is provided with angle-shape brackets 44 secured thereto as by welding or the like and so arranged that the upstanding legs thereof will be engaged by the cross bar 32'when the latter is used to clamp the lead 33 onto thev container |3.

In order to prevent undue dissipation of heat from the interior of the casing 4, there may be provided a cover 45. The cover 45 is a substantially circular plate of suitable material such as sheet steel and provided with a marginal flange 46 adapted to extend downwardly over the outsideof the casing 4. The inner or lower face of the cover 45 is provided with an adherent layer of thermal insulation 4'|. The cover 45 when in position will normally rest on the upper ends of the threaded studs 3|. In order to further support and balance the cover in this position,

there may be provided lugs such as 41 at spaced points on the inner periphery of the flange 46 and which lugs are adapted to rest on the upper edge of the casing 4 and provide third and fourth points of supportfor the cover 45. The cover 45 is provided with a slot generally indicated by the lines 48 in Fig. 5, which slot extends inwardly sufiiciently so as to accommodate the pump 38 as the cover 45 is moved laterally into position over the casing 4.

It will be observed that by the expedients illustrated and described there is provided a means whereby a container such as l3 of a solid, plastic or semi-fluid material, such as a lubricant, may be heated and by being contained in an insulated shell, maintained heated, to such an extent and for such a period of time that the contents of the container 3 may be preserved in a pumpable state. The cart may therefore be first heated, and then the source of heating current disconnected and the cart wheeled about to the various places where the lubricant is required, during which entire time the lubricant is maintained sufliciently fluid by virtue of being heated so that it may be readily pumped to the point of desired application. Alternatively, electrical connection, if by means of a cord long enough, may be maintained continuously during the use of the apparatus.

In Fig. '7 there is illustrated a modified form of the pump which in this instance is provided with a valve-generally indicated at 50 which may be manipulated by a handle generally indicated at 5|. The casing surrounding the valve plug 50 is provided with a fitting 52 which is a conventional air hose fitting. The plug 50 of the valve may occupy either the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 7 or, when the handle 5| is rotated in a clockwise direction to the position illustrated in dotted lines, the plug 50 will be correspondingly rotated to seal oil? the passage extending upwardly through the pump but providing communication between the air hose fitting 52 and the interior of the delivery hose 38.

When the pump is in use, the valve 50 will be in the full line position illustrated in Fig. 7. When the use of the apparatus is to be disc0ntinued for any length of time, and the apparatus assures stored in a space where the temperature would cause the lubricant to conceal or solidity in the hose II, the valve 50 is rotated to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 7, the delivery end of the hose is inserted through the opening 33, and then an air hose connected to the fitting I2 and compressed air admitted into the hose 1!. This will blow all of the lubricant in the hose is into the tank I3 leaving the hose empty. The apparatus may then be stored 'and when it is to be used again the heated contents of the tank is may be pumped through the delivery hose 38 to the point of use.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the detail described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A portable dispensing device for tacky, viscous lubricants which in a normal state are nonpumpable comprising a wheeled base, heating means on said base including an electrical resistance unit and a controlled circuit comprising a manually operable selector switch and a thermostatic switch, a thermally insulated casing on said base and adapted to receive a container for said viscous lubricants, a removable insulated cover for said casing, and manipulating handles secured to said assembly and extending laterally therefrom, whereby the viscous lubricant is maintained in a constant pumpable state by the heat generated by the heating unit in the wheeled base, said heat being retained by the insulating case.

2. A portable dispensing device for tacky, viscous lubricants which in a normal state are nonpumpable comprising a wheeled base, heating means on said base including an electrical resistance unit and a controlled circuit comprising a manually operable selector switch and a thermostatic switch, a thermally insulated casing adapted to receive the container for the lubricant on said base, said casing comprising separable complementary first and second sections mating on a substantially vertical plane with said first section fixed securely to said base and saidsecondsectionhingedtoflrstsectionsnds clamp for securing said sections in assembled relation, and manipulating handles secured to said assembly and extended laterally therefrom.

3. A portable dispensing device for tacky, viscous lubricants which in a normal state are non-pumpable comprising a wheeled base, heating means on said base including an electrical resistance unit and a controlled circuit comprising a manually operable selector switch and a thermostatic switch, a thermally insulating casing adapted to receive the container for the lubricant on said base, said casing comprising separably complementary first and second sections mating on a substantially vertical plane with said first section fixedly secured to said base and said'second section hingedly secured to said first section, a clamp for securing said sections in assembled relation, manipulating handles secured to said assembly and extending laterally therefrom and a removable insulating cover for said casing, said cover provided with an openin extending from an intermediate point to the margin thereof.

4. A portable dispensing device for thermoplastic materials which in a normal state are non-pumpable comprising a portable thermally insulated cabinet adapted to receive a container for said material, heating means in said cabinet, manually operated pump provided with a delivery conduit for dispensing said material, and means associated with said pump and conduit whereby after the dispenser has been in use the contents remaining in said conduit may be forced back into said container leaving said conduit empty when not in use.

JAMES W. LIDDELL. EDWARD F. SHANNON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

